The 25 best things about Poland

Updated 1:47 PM ET, Thu June 5, 2014

The 25 best things about Poland25 photos

25 things we love about Poland: The pope – To celebrate Poland's 25 years of independence, readers shared their favorite things about the country. The most famous person in Poland is arguably Pope John Paul II. From posters to personal shrines, Poles find ways to remember the first Polish pope.

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The 25 best things about Poland25 photos

2. Untouched nature – 2. Untouched nature: "Whenever I am abroad I miss the Polish landscape," said Katarzyna Biniek, who loves her country's pristine national parks and protected areas. "During the weekends, we love to escape from crowded cities to nature where you can recharge yourself." This photo comes from the town of Karpacz.

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3. Coffee – 3. Coffee: Agata Mleczko loves the coffee culture in her hometown of Poznan, Poland."You've got vintage cafes, modern cafes, teahouses, places where you drink chocolate and taste local sweets ... you can spend all your day in cafes!"

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4. The greatest generation – 4. The greatest generation: There's a generation of Poles who have lived through so much "that to call them wise doesn't seem a sufficient descriptor," says Malgorzata Krzanowska, whose grandmother and great-aunt are pictured. "This generation knew the terror of German occupation and the destruction of their country and people during World War II ... And after all those years, all those decades, they finally got to taste the freedom that should have been theirs all along."

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5. Krakow's Market Square – 5. Krakow's Market Square: Natalie Montanaro thinks Market Square is "one of the best places to have a great day, rain or shine." Browse the stalls for "all kinds of handmade goods and Polish jewels like amber," and come hungry, said Montanaro.

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6. Wieliczka Salt Mine – 6. Wieliczka Salt Mine: Ashley Hertz wasn't quite sure what to expect when she visited Wieliczka Salt Mine, but it ended up being one of the most amazing parts of her trip to Poland. The underground mine near Krakow features a lake, stables, statues and a cathedral carved entirely out of salt.

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7. Oscypek cheese – 7. Oscypek cheese: "There's nothing else quite like" oscypek, says Ania Jordan. The flavor "is like a cross between feta and smoked mozzarella. Oscypek cheese is made of sheep milk and it's pressed into interesting shapes and sizes. ... It's traditionally sold along streets from small carts by the highlanders of the Tatra Mountains."

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8. Masurian Lake District – 8. The Masurian lakes: "The Masurian lake district within northeastern Poland is simply beautiful," said Karolina Kutylo. "This district encompasses miles beyond miles of lakes, forests and green plains. Here, nature-lovers of all sorts can really enjoy Poland's beauty." Activities include kayaking, hiking and swimming.

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9. Dedication to art and history – 9. Art and history: During World War II, many of Poland's most valued artistic treasures, plus the country's gold reserve, were evacuated to protect them from the Nazis. They went through many allied nations for safekeeping. "The story illustrates the length people may go to protect their national culture and dignity," said Jens Anker Jorgensen. "It also confirms the value of the arts in building bridges between nations."

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10. 'Picture-perfect' Zakopane – 10. "Picture-perfect" Zakopane: Richard Gornik was awed by "the beautiful scenery and the holiday atmosphere" in the town of Zakopane during a visit to Poland.

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11. The 'painted village' of Zalipie – 11. The "painted village": Zalipie "has a long-lasting tradition of painted cottages," says Agnieszka Pawlus. "This cheerful place, sometimes balancing on the borders of kitsch, is a fantastic place to discover. The people are open and willing to share their passion with guests."

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12. Frederic Chopin – 12. Frederic Chopin: The celebrated romantic composer is an "immortal rock star" in Warsaw and all over Poland, says Brendan Ciecko. You can visit a museum dedicated to Chopin's life and works, or, for a more contemporary take, check out street murals honoring him like this one.

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13. Its resilience – 13. Resilience: Diana Corridori was most impressed with the resilience of the Polish people after two world wars and communist rule when she visited. "When I think of the recent history of these people, then to see how they were able to rebuild their destroyed cities and lives -- what an amazing country!"

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14. Vistula River – 14. Vistula River: Poland's largest river awed Cheryl Tan when she visited Krakow from Singapore. "It was a real treat to find myself standing on the banks of the largest river in Poland and taking in the incredible view of a city where centuries-old architecture continues to exist alongside the new," she said.

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15. Przystanek Woodstock – 15. Przystanek Woodstock: Jean-Pierre Bijouard enjoys Poland's Przystanek Woodstock, a massive open-air music festival in the town of Kostrzyn Nad Odra. Woodstock, inspired by the famous 1969 festival of the same name, is "a huge crowd of music lovers meandering through an ephemeral city, going to and coming from the three main stages to vibrate to the rhythms of international rock music," said Bijouard.

17. Its history of diversity – 17. Diversity: "Throughout its history, Poland has been home to a diverse range of minorities," says Adam Kalinin. "Poles, Jews, Tatars, Russians, Germans, Lithuanians, Armenians, the Romani people and others lived there as neighbors for centuries." World War II and the years following made things difficult for awhile, but Kalinin believes that, in post-communist years, "a revival of Poland's cultural and ethnic diversity has been observed."

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18. Poznan's Stary Rynek – 18. Poznan's Stary Rynek: The old town square in the city of Poznan captured Julius Marchwicki's heart. It "is the quintessential Polish town square, featuring a ratusz (historic city hall), colorful buildings, outdoor bars/restaurants and sculptures or artwork," he said. He finds it more personal, accessible and less touristy than most European town squares. Plus, he says, it features some of the best beer around.

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19. Kaszubia – 19. Kaszubia: The beauty and hospitality of the Kashubian region in northern Poland captivated Magdalena Wlodarska. "Its post-glacial hilly landscape (is) characterized by oblong deep lakes filled with crystalline cold water full of fish and crayfish," she said. The forests are full of blueberries, mushrooms and "the sweetest strawberries in the world."

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20. Its sense of humor – 20. Sense of humor: "Poles love a practical joke," says Mateusz Buczko, or "a well-told story that starts with chuckles and ends with a belly laugh." Here, Polish tennis pro Agnieszka Radwanska, left, is seen goofing around with Danish player Caroline Wozniacki.

Click the double arrows to view the final five things we love about Poland.

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21. Unexpected beauty – 21. Unexpected beauty: "We were still expecting a sad, war-ravaged Eastern European country," said Stephanie Zaleski of her first trip to Poland in 2009. "Instead we were surprised by beauty all around."

"Congrats, Poland," she added. "You're a beautiful country full of magical surprises."

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22. Sunsets – 22. Sunsets: "I have seen many sunsets around the world and I still consider sunsets in Masuria the most beautiful," says Ada Gralewska of the region in northeastern Poland. This photo comes from her hometown of Biala Piska.

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23. Sopot Molo – 23. Sopot Molo: The molo, or pier, in the city of Sopot is a popular tourist attraction for walking and watching sporting events. It is the longest wooden pier in Europe. Benjamin Vigier captured it nearly empty on a gray day.

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24. Hidden castles – 24. Hidden castles iReporter Ashmeet Singh said Poland's best attraction is its hidden castles. Pictured here is Grodno castle near the city of Swidnica.

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25. The people – 25. The people: "As a returned Peace Corps volunteer who served in Poland, what I love most about Poland is the fact that this became my home away from home," said Jeff Petrich. "Poles welcomed us all with open arms and we developed lifelong friendships with host families, friends, co-workers and neighbors during our service."